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American physiotherapist Jennifer Seeger has turned her love for baking colourful cookies into a means of finding joy during the pandemic, as well as sharing that zest for life with other ‘cookie-holics’ across the kingdom.
The mother-of-two, who lives in Mahooz, originally planned on continuing her career in physiotherapy or personal training when she moved to Bahrain with her husband Lucas.
However, with the uncertainty of how Covid-19 would affect their daily lives and with her six-year-old son Caleb’s transition into school and Mason, three, heading to kindergarten – she put her career plans on hold and concentrated on developing her baking skills.
“In a world where we often feel disconnected, especially with Covid-19 right now, it allows me to connect with others and bring a smile to their face and their loved ones,” said the ‘cookier’.
“I have always had a passion for helping others, it’s what drew me to physical therapy and it also is what draws me to create cookies; being able to make a small difference in someone’s life through my love of art and baking.”
Originally, she started making cookies when she helped throw a friend’s baby shower.
“I’ve always been artistic and a good baker so I decided to try my hand at making the cookies myself,” she explained.
“They turned out lovely, despite a few beginners’ flaws and I found a true passion in making them. I began baking more and more for holidays, celebrations and for friends.”
She then launched ‘Cookie Therapy’, which is a play on words based on her career and how baking is like therapy for her.
“I never imagined that I would be blessed with so many people who love and want the cookies I create,” she said. “Also, when I bake I find joy and I am also challenged by each set I make. It helps me clear my mind and have a focused goal.
“My ultimate goal though is to bring joy to those who the cookies are for, and for me. I love being a small part of people’s personal celebrations and holidays.”
That makes sense as her baking prowess and the need to share originated from her grandmother and many of the women in her family that would come together during the holidays and celebrations to cook and bake for the family.
Her cookie inspirations stem from everything and anything; with themes including Christmas cookies based on the Elf movie, Ramadan cookies and even ones centred on the Friends TV sitcom ... but with a Bahraini twist. She has created cookies for birthdays, anniversaries, corporate events and baby showers.
Once they are baked, some only take a few minutes to create while other’s can take up to one hour for an individual creation, depending on detail and different layers.
She said: “Most cookies have to be worked on over several hours or days to allow for drying between steps. One thing I truly did not realise is how much background work goes into each set.
“I have a greater appreciation for cake and cookie artists now that I can call myself one. Once I get a request I begin looking up ideas, I then like to draw out my ideas by hand and talk inspiration, colours and details.”
When the time comes, she chooses shapes and colours, makes the dough, bakes the cookies, mixes the icing, colours the icing and bags it to get ready to start a set.
Jennifer is now working on staging cookie classes in the future. “I just want to make sure I am staying true to the health and safety measures set for preventing the spread of Covid-19 so those plans, while in the works, are being implemented slowly,” she added.
For details, follow @cookietherapybyjenny on Instaram and Facebook.
